Journey...
page 10 Travel to South Africa and learn about one student’s adventure.
page 6 26.2 miles... insane?
page 12 Going Green!
www.Facebook.com/switch.is.org page 8 Anticipation, Hard Work, and finding a Balance.
page 4 It is more than a want; you must WORK for it.
Volume 9, Issue 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS pg. 3 pg. 4 pg. 6 pg. 8 pg. 10 pg. 12 pg. 15 pg. 16 pg. 18
Inspiring Beauty Keeping Your Body in Shape Journey through a Marathon Journey through High School From a Different Perspective Going Green Find the Differences Fiction Feature A Bike for Rights
LAW OFFICE OF STACEY JOROFF, LLLC ~ A GENERAL PRACTICE EMPHASIZING PREVENTATIVE LAW ~
Family/ Divorce Adoption, Mediation Estate Planning and Landlord/Tenant P.O. Box 510108, Kealia staceyj@hawaiiantel.net www.staceyjoroff.justia.net
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Inspiring Beauty by Margo Latif
Could you live without your cell phone? In this article of Inspiring Beauty, I am going to bring forth the journey over the years from technology, to our basic media. It's crazy how much has changed within the past decade, that revolting back to life style earlier in the decade would send most of this generation into shell shock. Most people today have become so dependent on their inanimate objects, that going periods of time without them makes the average teen irritated, and sometimes emotional. It is not a coincidence that we are constantly referred to as being the generation of technology, and cyber relationships. However, there is another thing our generation is also known for is getting our news and information from the internet, not necessarily a reliable place for information at all times. How do you find an answer to your question? If I were to have asked that question ten years ago, before the World Wide Web became common in peoples lives, the response would be the reading of an article that was published on the topic, or to hopefully find an expert on the subject and talk with them. Today, any question that comes across your mind can be answered with a few touches of your fingers across the surface of your cellular device. How is it that an object that can fit in the palm of your hand, can tell you the answers to chemistry problems, health issues, and even update you on international, national, and local news? We as a generation, have been given an opportunity that no other generation in history has experienced. So what will you do with this opportunity?
We are the generation of technology! The pictures where from the 1967 Vietnam protests, in Wichita, Kansas. These photos were provided by Wikimedia Commons by the National Archives and Records Administration
The picture to the left demonstrates the difference in protest from today, compared to the above photos of the Vietnam protest. The Kony 2012 video was viewed by thousands, while the protest above was only viewed by locals.
In the early 1970's, protests erupted over America's participation in the Vietnam war. Mothers, college students, hippies, journalists, lawyers, and physicians all put their voices to the test. Today, if there is a dispute dealing with war, dictators, or even government decisions, people can publish their opinions on the internet instantaneously. Our generation has been given an opportunity to influence the law makers, and change the world we live in. However, just like any new device, how we use it is what really matters. If we take advantage of all the opportunities given to us from the internet, but only for selfish reasons for personal benefit, then the we are not getting the most out of this wonderful new invention.
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Keeping Your Body In Shape by Lily Mindel Why Exercise is Important
Exercise is so important for you. People that don’t exercise are not making their bodies happy. I know from experience those days when you do not want to get out of bed or do anything active. What people need to realize is that after you work out, you feel so much better and your attitude becomes a lot better as well. Exercise is also a key factor to keep one’s weight under control because if you burn more calories than your take in, that’s what makes you loose weight. Not all exercise is for losing weight, for example I run everyday because it puts me in a better mood and makes me feel good about myself. Exercise reduces stress, lifts moods, and helps you sleep better. What is interesting is it can keep you looking and feeling younger throughout your entire life!!
“Keeping your body in good shape does not just come by wanting it, you have to work for it. It will be hard, but in the end its worth it.” -Lily 4
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“The first wealth is health” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
In the picture is Lisa Mindel, accomplished triathlete, finishing her triathlon on Maui. Photo taken by Dan Mindel
Here are some tips and favorite foods of Lisa’s that keep her healthy. Tips: - Exercise. - Eat fresh and organic with no preservatives and no trans fat. - Drink lots of water. Foods: - A large salad of kale with quinoa, edamame, chick peas, tomatoes, cucumber, and some toasted sesame seeds Or substitute that for some pumpkin seeds. -Red lentil soup (Lisa makes this at least once a week. It is a great meal that keeps you full for a while.) RECIPE: -You need brown onions (cut them length ways) then saute them in olive oil - Add 8 cups or more of water, red lentils (just enough so the spoon drags through the -Add thickly cut carrots and bring to a boil -Simmer for about 40 minutes. Stirring occasionally so that it does not stick to the bottom. THEN YOU HAVE IT!
EXERCISE: Running Here, I am going to tell you about my favorite type of exercise and how to incorporate it into your daily lives. When someone starts running for the first time, they think that to benefit themselves they have to run everyday. But that’s just a way to get yourself hurt. To do it right start running for 20 minutes 3 to 4 times a week. And then stretch afterwards. Stretching is very important. Stretching keeps you from getting injured, because when your body is warmed up in needs to cool down and the best way to do that is walk a little after you run and stretch the muscles. Once you get a steady routine, you can start working your way running everyday. But it’s a slow process. You can’t go to a class to learn to run, you have to teach yourself. If you teach yourself the right way, you will be successful. Running is not the only way you can exercise. If you don’t like running that’s okay. Running is not for everyone. Swimming is also a great way to exercise. I know a lot of people who work and have school throughout the day and they think there is not enough time to work out, but there is always time to rejuvenate your body. After school or work try and find some time to go to the gym or walk outside your door and run. For the people who don’t like to run, there is always the biking or swimming at the gym. If you have no time to go to the gym you can use your own personal bike and ride around your neighborhood. Keeping your body healthy is so important. So get up and get out and do something that will benefit your body! 5
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Journey Through a Marathon by Ryan Perez
Running 26.2 miles might sound insane, but it's definitely possible to complete. It's done by people of all ages. I am 17 years old and I have completed six full marathons; having done my first one at the age of 13. I have been asked many questions such as, “Why would you want to run a Ryan Perez after completing marathon?” or “What goes on in your the 2009 Kauai Marathon head while you're running that many miles?” I usually respond with simple answers because there can be a lot to explain. I'm going to tell you in detail, mile by mile, what normally goes on in the full Honolulu Marathon, from my point of view. The best word of advice I've received regarding running a marathon is to “Run the second half of the race faster than the first half; otherwise you'll want to quit.” This is the thought that crosses my mind at the sound of the gun. If I go out too fast in the beginning, I won't have enough energy or motivation to run the next 13.1 miles. Once mile one is complete, the anxiety slowly starts to go away and I begin to focus on my music and the surroundings; my body becomes slightly more relaxed. Miles two through five, the sun is still yet to rise because the race begins at five in the morning.
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By the time I'm at mile six, running just past Diamond Head mountain, I easily become distracted by the amazing sunrise; forgetting that I am currently running a marathon. Not once throughout the long race does the thought of “why am I doing this?� cross my mind, because if I think negatively it makes it easier on my body to shut down, since a high percent of running is mental. Surprisingly, if you run the race mile by mile instead of thinking too far ahead, the race will go by much faster. After the first half of the race, first thing to do is check your time (while you continue to run) and see if you're going too fast or too slow. Whether you are going too fast or too slow, the next thing to do is to focus on making it to mile 14. For the next few miles, I still focus on my surroundings, music, and supporters, because it takes my mind off the distance I have to complete. Mile marker 20 is where I have to prove the amount of endurance I actually have because the next 6.2 miles will be a challenge. Depending on how you trained prior to the race, your body will have a temptation to shut down. When I feel myself increasing the urge to walk, I think about all the hard work I put into this marathon and the race time that I'm going for. Setting personal goals for a marathon is key, because then you have something mentally to push yourself for. Crossing the finish line after my first marathon has to be one of my greatest accomplishments and it's definitely something to be proud of. Anyone is capable of completing a marathon. If you set personal goals, you will have more motivation to work harder. Running a marathon; now that's something to cross off your bucket list.
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Journey Through High School by Sarah James Summer of 2008 was full of anticipation. I had no idea what to expect going into my first year of high school. New classes, new teachers, new friends and various opportunities. High school has passed by faster than I ever would have imagined. I am currently 18 years old and will be graduating in less than 2 months. I am writing this story to inform current high school students that their journey through high school has a great impact on their future. Everything you do in high school leads up to your senior year: applying to various universities or colleges for the following fall, applying for scholarships, and maintaining your grades and interests. Balancing all of your responsibilities is key. EVERYTHING YOU DO IN HIGH SCHOOL LEADS UP TO YOUR SENIOR YEAR. Because high school is so important for your future, I thought I’d share some of the knowledge I have gained throughout my journey through high school.
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Study Habits - Immediately review your notes after you take them. If you spend a few minutes glancing over them, it will make a huge difference. - Don’t leave studying to the night before an important test. You will not have enough time to review all of the material. - Study notes you have taken in class and re-write them on flash cards to quiz yourself the night before the test or even an hour before you will take the test. - Homework may be tedious and hard. If you feel challenged, there are various opportunities for tutoring and receiving other help. - Even if you have only one or two missing homework assignments, it really impacts your grade in a negative way. - Get homework out of the way when you get home on the day that it was assigned. That way the material will still be fresh in your mind. - Eat a healthy, nutritious breakfast and drink as much water as you can. Always bring a water bottle to school with you and refill it as often as possible to stay hydrated throughout the day. Hydrating and eating healthy will help your thought process during the school day. [Check out Lily Mindel’s article on pages 4 and 5.]
During the first few weeks of senior year I was in a class called Senior Counseling. The class focused on reviewing our grades throughout all four years of high school, filling out a variety of college applications and writing resumes. I began writing my resume and realized it was full, yet it didn’t quite show the variety of activities I was actually interested in because I didn’t participate in them throughout my high school years. A strong college resume should show a variety of your previous activities. Some examples of educational activities are student government, National Honors Society, work experience, and awards. I suggest that during your freshman and sophomore years, even your junior year, try to keep yourself as busy and occupied as possible with positive activities that will build your character and resume. In a nutshell, here are some key points for building a college resume: - Keep yourself occupied to build up your college resume. - Get involved in student government, community service, sports, or work experience, even volunteer work. It is a great way to keep you busy, help figure out what you’re actually interested in, and help the community, whether it be in your town or in your school.
-Don’t be ashamed of getting involved. Try new things. Apply for a position in student government or go out for a sports team. Bad Study Habits
Good Study Habits I understand this may sound overwhelmin g, but I wish that someone had informed me of all of this information when I was starting off in high school.
Balance is key in high school and life in general. There will always be times to enjoy yourself and have fun. Yet when you need to study, study. When you need to do your homework and focus on school, FOCUS. My advice is to go to school every day and work as hard as possible on your school work during the week so that when the weekend rolls around, you will be free to spend time doing things you enjoy.
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From a Different Perspective by Kezia Kawaihalau
We all make assumptions to what we think things are or should appear to look like. People from the mainland may think of those who live in Hawaii as playing soccer with coconuts and living in grass shacks while dancing hula all day. When you hear the word “Africa,” what do you think of? Some may think of Africa as dirty, poor, homeless, and a place where people ride on elephants. In reality that’s not how it is. We tend to segregate people and their lifestyle based on where they are from. That’s not so cool is it? During my winter break I was granted an amazing, life changing trip to South Africa. I traveled to Cape Town and Johannesburg and also spent some time in the middle of nowhere on a safari. Visiting villages was definitely something pretty awesome. In South Africa the people speak 11 different languages: Afrikaans, IsiNdebele, IsiXhosa, IsiZulu, Sesotho sa Leboa, Sesotho,Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda, and Xitsonga. One day I got to visit children in a school or nursery you could say. In the picture above I am letting children, with whom I visited, play with my phone. They took pictures of themselves with the front cam and we all shared a laugh. The smiles on their faces put a smile on mine. While driving down the roads, there are what look like Matson containers cut up and placed in lines. These things stretch for miles along the road and are known as “shanty towns.” Most all shanty towns are located directly outside the cities. I asked my friend who lives there what kind of people live in them. She told me, “The people who live in shanty towns don't live there because they are poor, but because they want to keep that lifestyle. It is also a free and cheaper place to live, because they do not have to pay for electricity.” (Note: According to Wikipedia.org <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanty_town>, “A shanty town (also called a squatter settlement) is a slum settlement (sometimes illegal or unauthorized) of impoverished people who live in improvised dwellings made from scrap materials: often plywood, corrugated metal and sheets of plastic. Shanty towns, which are usually built on the periphery of cities, often do not have proper sanitation, electricity or telephone services.” David Whitehouse, the science editor for the BBC News website reported in "Half of humanity set to go urban" on May 19, 2005, that “One billion people, one-sixth of the world's population, now live in shanty towns.”)
To the left is a picture I took while in the village. It’s of a woman walking through what’s like a “farmers market.” In these little markets the people sell things from clothes to artwork and anything else in between. While on the corner a group of little boys were singing and dancing. Checking every thing out here was very neat, however I didn't get to purchase anything because my money was not yet converted. After spending a few nights in the Cape town we flew to Johannesburg then into what’s called the “Bush.” We got to go on safari which was also very interesting. Waking up in the morning at 5 to go on a drive at 6am was definitely cool. We got to see the animals waking up: from lions to elephants, zebras and monkeys. Safari was definitely my favorite part!
The picture to the left is of the plane that we flew on to get into the bush. We landed on a dirt runway.
This trip was definitely amazing!! If you go check out our Facebook page, “Island School Journalism,” you will be able to check out a few videos I took during my trip. 11 Switch
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by Lila DeTreaux Nowadays, it seems that everywhere I go, I hear the phrase “Go green!” I hear it at the mall, at school--even in popular magazines. No matter how often I hear it, my reaction is always the same: “I’m too busy/tired/stressed to go green!!” It took a visit to beautiful British Columbia for me to realize going green isn’t all that hard. Why? Think of the earth
If we all do something to fix-up the planet, like the way we fix up our house, because that’s own homes, the world what it really is. You make will be a better, cleaner messes on the Earth just place in no time. If we like you make messes in keep waiting for your house. How much someone else to do easier is it to clean your this, our planet will house when everyone become increasingly who lives there pitches in difficult to keep clean. a little? That is why it’s Eventually, it may even important for everyone become uninhabitable. on Earth to do their part. as a much larger
Reduce! Reuse! Recycle! 12
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Sewage near housing Photo Credits: Both photos from Creative Commons
Here Are Some Ideas Everything you do affects the place you live, and you can make a difference. These are some things that I saw my friends in Canada do. Ÿ Bring reusable bags to the grocery store.
School Bag, Work Bag, or Lunch Box Ÿ Reuse packaging for other items:
Ÿ
Ÿ
Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ
An old yogurt container can become a new pesto jar! Glass jars and containers with re-sealable lids like the yogurt are great. Even if you don’t have a use for it right away, there is no reason to throw away perfectly good packaging. Try to buy things that have reusable or recyclable packaging; Buy juice in a glass jar instead of a plastic or paper carton. A little more expensive, but it’s usually a lot healthier. Use reusable kitchen items No plasticware! Energy Saving Silverware and real dishes make Methods a meal classy Ÿ Turn the water off when No paper napkins! you’re brushing your teeth Use dish-towels and wash them with your laundry Ÿ When you wash dishes, Reuse what’s at hand. fill up the sink with water and Avoid the trash can! wash the dishes, then rinse It is estimated that 20% of waste them all at once going into landfills is food. Ÿ Turn off the lights when Instead of throwing away: you leave a room Create a compost. Food waste can be given to animals.
NOW YOU TRY IT! In the town I visited in Canada, these things are a part of life. They are traditions that go back generations. Now, it’s your turn. So start small. The next time you go to the store, don’t forget your grocery bags! A little effort goes a long way.
Photo Credit: Above-Sign in Indea; Creative Common. Top left-Creative Commons. Top Right-FreeFoto
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“WE’RE LIFETIME FRIENDS”
PROUD PARENT AND SUPPORTER OF ISLAND SCHOOL MAHALO TONY COOK SALES & LEASING REP KING AUTO CENTER (808) 245-4788 www.kingautocenter.com 14 Switch
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bike : center road line (dotted), trees on left side, part of arm missing, window on brown house grew Bird : left eye, color on tail (yellow->blue), no lines on yellow toy, no bars on top right cage Shave Ice : phone case(top right corner: orange -> purple), orange rim on green container, shadow (bottom left hand corner, orange sprinkles on white shave ice, curb is curved
6 differences ↴ 4 differences ↴
4 differences ↴
Differences:) Find the
Fiction Feature Everything Has A Consequence, Only Some Are Deadly by Imara Joroff
Trevor Alden is a meticulous FBI agent who is ready for a weekend in a cabin with his girlfriend, but when a young girl is taken he has to abandon his dream and help find her before time runs out. Eva Acton is the mother of Chassidy and Justin. When her daughter is kidnaped and her son is stabbed, she must find her daughter before it’s to late. Chassidy Acton is moved due to the Witness Protection Program. After she starts to get settled in her new life she is abruptly taken by the “people dressed all in black”. Turns out she knew her kidnappers all along. From the point of view of the three most involved lives, you are taken on an exciting adventure against time to retrieve Chassidy Acton.
“Kids!” I called from the kitchen, “Lunch is ready!” I plated the sandwiches with some chips and a few strawberries. “Yeah. Just a minute mom.” Justin called from outside. “ I have to catch Sid and then we’ll come eat.” “Okay, just don't get her dress dirty. Lunch is on the counter. I’ll be in the shower.” “Witness Protection sucked.” “‘Kay.” I heard some more laughter and headed up to the bathroom. Witness Protection sucked. It was hot and the air conditioner didn’t work. I shed my clothing and stepped into the cold water. I had to prep the kids on their new identities before school tomorrow and I couldn’t even remember my own. I shook my head and let the water carry my thoughts away. I can worry about names when I’m not immersed in this cold fulfilling- A scream cut me short. I turned off the water and silently cursed Justin for hurting his sister as I wrapped my towel around my body and grabbed an extra one for my damp hair. “Kids. You okay?” I moved my extra towel back and forth on my hair to dry it. I started down the stairs. I didn’t hear an answer. “Kids?” I tried again. “My son had a bloody gash Okay now I was starting to get worried.
in his side and my daughter had been kidnaped.”
“Kids?” I set the towel on the kitchen counter. I opened the screen door onto the lawn and screamed. Justin was lying on the ground with his hand covering his stomach right above his left hip. “Justin. Are you okay?” 16 Switch
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Continues on the next page
I kneeled over him and lifted his hand away from his stomach. His palm was covered in blood and his red shirt was soaked to the point that it looked black. Justin what happened?” I pressed my own hand onto his gash. He shook his head. “No, don’t move.” I pushed on his chest with my free hand and made him stop. “What happened?” I asked. “They took her," he whispered. “They took who?” I removed my hand and saw the blood left behind. I almost puked. “Chassidy. ” “Chassidy?” I was so preoccupied with my son that I didn’t realize my daughter was gone.. “Who took her?” I asked. I was starting to get hysterical. This was not an okay amount of blood, “I don’t know.” “We have to get you inside. Can you move?” I asked as I slipped my arm under his back to help him up. I was concerned for Chassidy, but I had to take care of my son. “They just took her," he said again. “I heard you, baby, now let’s get you inside, okay?” He wasn’t listening to me. He was going to die of blood loss if we didn’t get him to the hospital. He looked at me seeming to come out of his daze. “Oh. Yeah, mom.” I tightened my grip around his chest. “One. Two. Three!” I pulled him up and supported his weight on my shoulder. Even then he just sank back to the ground and moaned. “Well, that didn’t work. I’m going to get the car, okay?” “Mrumph,” he said in response. I reached down and brushed his blond hair out of his face. I ran to grab the keys in the kitchen. I assessed the situation in my mind. This was not good. My son had a bloody gash in his side and my daughter had been kidnaped. No. This was not good at all. 17 Whole Story at http://www.facebook.com/switch.is.org Switch
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A Bike for Rights Jonathon Moeller completes a cross-country bike ride for human rights awareness. by Sachi deTreaux
Above: Jonathan takes a break from biking to snap a photo. Right: Jonathan’s journey shown on Google Maps. Contributed by
What would motivate you to bike 3,200 miles across the country? For Jonathan Moeller, it was the International Justice Mission (IJM), a non-profit organization that fights human rights abuse around the world. As of April 4th, 2012, Jonathan has completed biking from Carlsbad, San Diego, California to Virginia Beach. 18 Switch
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“With God all things are possible. My legs got me 3,200 miles through huge cities and desert, but God kept every one of the 85 thousand cars that passed by from running me to the asphalt.” Raised on Kauai, Jonathan found exciting ways to raise awareness for human rights and inspire people, all while having a good time. In 2010, Jonathan kayaked around Kauai for IJM. He knew the next thing he did would have to stand out, and on February 20th, 2012 his 45 day trek across the country began. After reading articles about him in Kauai newspapers, I was intrigued by his dedication and wanted to know more behind his story. He was gracious enough to do a short interview.
internet. My Fiancee most of all.
Were you alone while biking or did you have people accompanying you?
Above: Jonathon Moeller stops to talk about his journey.
“ I haven't owned a bike since 3rd grade.” What was your inspiration? What do you hope other people will get out of your efforts?
I was alone the entire time. I had all of my food, water, gear, and spare parts packed on the bike. I had two friends from Hawaii (Jason Lee and Ben Paulston) who were on a cross country road trip at the same time and occasionally met me in different towns for a meal. One time I came across them on the side of the road in Texas, and the made me french toast.
I understand you got engaged I saw that IJM was an exceptional just 2 weeks before you left. group, and pooling money for them Was this hard on the would be one of the most effective ways relationship? Was your fiancé for me to do my part in the battle against human slavery and sex trafficking: two supportive?
She was completely supportive of the bike trip. Being apart was more difficult than either of us imagined, but in the end it worked out for the best. We got better at talking on the phone; What was the scariest moment on (which we were both bad at) and it forced me to bike faster! The only way your bicycle trip? I was able to do it as fast as I did is Crossing the Mississippi. A mile because she was at the finish line :) long bridge. I did it at Baton Rouge, What was the highpoint of your Louisiana: Two cramped lanes, no shoulder, and hundreds of cars. I made a trip and what was the low point? The highpoint was finishing My first prayer, texted my fiancee that I loved 150mile ride. I was exhausted, but her, and went for it. arrived at a beautiful home by a lake What biking experience did you outside Millidgeville, GA. Ate a have before this adventure? HUGE dinner and champagne. Made I haven't owned a bike since 3rd some friends too! The low point was grade, but I've taken mountain Biking in getting 5 flat tires in the freezing rain college and I occasionally rent a bike storms of west Texas. When you're when I'm visiting foreign cities. hands are numb, changing a tire is What was your favorite place? much harder. It’s a very lonely feeling Austin, TX!!! when you’re crouched over a disassembled bike in the rain in the What was your support dark, 50 miles away from the nearest team/system like? person, and hundreds away from the Just all my friends sending me nearest person that cares for you. encouraging words by phone and things that I find particularly heinous. Even if you don't have a lot of money or skill; organizing a fundraiser is a simple way for a person to make a big difference.
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